Last Friday, word broke that Escovedo will take on Brazilian
prospect
Renan “Barao” Pegado at UFC
130 on May 28, leaving Vargas without a dance partner. Days
later, Tachi Palace officials have found their substitute for the
UFC-bound “Apache Kid.”

Sherdog.com learned from Tachi Palace Events Coordinator Jeremy
Luchau on Monday that Florida-based Kyrgyzstani Farkhad
Sharipov will step in on less than two weeks’ notice to meet
Vargas.

“Last minute replacements are always tough,” said Luchau. “Once
again, we are lucky to be able to pull off such a talented
replacement. We wish Cole nothing but the best in his UFC
future.”

Luchau also noted that the winner of the Sharipov-Vargas bout will
earn a shot at the vacant TPF 135-pound title, recently
relinquished by Michael
McDonald -- another UFC bantamweight, who coincidentally won
the belt with a July 2010 knockout of Escovedo.

Sharipov, who turned 27 on April 19, is a former Kyrgyzstani
national freestyle wrestling champion and onetime member of the
Russian national wrestling team. Now fighting out of Gracie Barra
Orlando, “Frank Sharp” has made his bones on the Southeast circuit
since 2007, compiling a 12-3 record with nine wins by way of
decision. Last seen decisioning Eric Luke at
Bellator Fighting Championships 24 in August, Sharipov also
holds notable wins over “The Ultimate Fighter 12” cast member
Alex
Caceres and
American Top Team prospect Chris
Manuel.

Vargas, a former collegiate wrestling standout at Northwestern
University, made his Tachi debut in December, earning a unanimous
decision over Martin
Sandoval at TPF
7. The 28-year-old Highland, Calif., native has racked up an
8-1 record since turning to MMA in November 2008 and currently
trains at
Millennia MMA alongside the likes of UFC bantamweight Charlie
Valencia and TPF flyweight champ Darrell
Montague.

Tachi Palace Fights 9 takes place May 6 at the Tachi Palace Hotel
and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., and will stream live on Sherdog.com.
Headlining the card is a high-profile flyweight duel between
world-ranked 125-pounder Ian McCall and
unbeaten prospect Dustin
Ortiz.